Support pillow for pregnant women, obese people, people who suffer from various forms of back pain and people who suffer from sleep apnea, snoring and sciatica

Abstract

A pillow (10) for pregnant, over weight, back-pain suffering, sleep apnea suffering, and sciatica suffering persons lying in a prone position, is provided. The pillow has an aperture (90) extending through it, and is sized for receipt of a portion of the abdomen of the user. The aperture is defined by at least first (20), second (30) and third (40) support structures, and is of a substantially uniform thickness (T). The first support structure extends substantially traversely across the lower-chest and upper-abdominal regions of the user, the second support structure extends along a first side-abdominal region of the user to end proximate to the person's pelvic region, and the third support structure extends along a second side-abdominal region of the user to also end proximate to the pelvic region of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. For a pregnant, over weight, back-pain suffering, sleep apnea suffering, and sciatica suffering person having an abdomen, an upper-abdominal region, a lower-chest region, first and second side-abdominal regions and a pelvic region, a pillow for said person to lie prone upon, comprising: an aperture extending through said pillow and sized to receive therein a substantial portion of said abdomen of said person, said aperture defined by at least first, second and third support structures of said pillow, wherein: said first support structure extends substantially transversely across said lower-chest region and said upper-abdominal region of said person;   said second support structure has first and second ends and extends from said first end thereof, located at a first end of said first support structure, in a substantially longitudinal direction along said first side-abdominal region of said person, to said second end thereof so as to end proximate to said pelvic region of said person; and   said third support structure has first and second ends and extends from said first end thereof, located at a second end of said first support structure, in a substantially longitudinal direction along said second side-abdominal region of said person, to said second end thereof so as to end proximate to said pelvic region of said person;     a chamfer portion located along said second ends of said second and third support structures, and proximate said pelvic region of said person; and   a selectively removable cover comprising a panel;   wherein said person, lying prone on said pillow with said substantial portion of said abdomen positioned substantially within said aperture, is supported by said first, second and third support structures of said pillow, and said panel of said cover closes said aperture underneath said abdomen of said person.   
     
     
       2. For a pregnant, over weight, back-pain suffering, sleep apnea suffering, and sciatica suffering person having an abdomen, an upper-abdominal region, a lower-chest region, first and second side-abdominal regions and a pelvic region, a pillow for said person to lie prone upon, comprising: an upper support surface in direct contact with portions of said pelvic, lower-chest and upper-abdominal and side-abdominal regions of said person to support said regions while said person is lying prone.   a lower surface for placement onto a substantially horizontal support surface, said upper and lower surfaces separated by a substantially uniform thickness of said pillow;   an abdomen receiving aperture defined through said upper and lower surfaces, for receipt therein of a substantial portion of said abdomen of said person;   a chamfer portion located along said upper support surface, proximate to said pelvic region of said person when said person is lying prone on said pillow; and   a selectively removable cover comprising a panel, wherein said panel closes said aperture underneath said abdomen of said person, when said person is lying prone on said pillow.   
     
     
       3. For a pregnant, over weight, back pain suffering, sleep apnea suffering, and sciatica suffering person having an abdomen, an upper-abdominal region, a lower-chest region, first and second side-abdominal regions and a pelvic region, a pillow for said person to lie prone upon, comprising: an aperture extending through said pillow and sized to receive therein a substantial portion of said abdomen of said person, said aperture defined by at least first, second and third support structures of said pillow, wherein: said first support structure extends substantially transversely across said lower-chest region and said upper-abdominal region of said person;   said second support structure has first and second ends and extends from said first end thereof, located at a first end of said first support structure, in a substantially longitudinal direction along said first side-abdominal region of said person, to said second end thereof so as to end proximate to said pelvic region of said person; and   said third support structure has first and second ends and extends from said first end thereof, located at a second end of said first support structure, in a substantially longitudinal direction along said second side-abdominal region of said person, to said second end thereof so as to end proximate to said pelvic region of said person;   wherein said first, second and third support structures are continuously formed, creating a continuous upper support surface and a continuous lower surface, each defined by a continuous outside wall and a continuous inside wall;     a thickness defined between said continuous upper support surface and said continuous lower surface;   a first chamfer portion located along said second ends of said second and third support structures, proximate said pelvic region of said person, and extending in a direction from said first ends toward said second ends of both of said second and third support structures, and said first chamfer portion extending fully between said continuous inside and outside walls and only part way down from said continuous upper support surface toward said continuous lower surface of said pillow, so that said thickness of said pillow decreases along said first chamfer portion, in a direction from said first ends toward said second ends of both of said second and third support structures; and   a second chamfer portion located along said first support structure;   wherein said person, lying prone on said pillow with said substantial portion of said abdomen positioned substantially within said aperture, is supported along said continuous upper support surface by said first, second and third support structures of said pillow.   
     
     
       4. A pillow as recited in claim 3, wherein said second chamfer portion of said pillow extends only part way between said continuous inside and outside walls, and only part way down from said continuous upper support surface toward said continuous lower surface of said pillow. 
     
     
       5. For a pregnant, over weight, back-pain suffering, sleep apnea suffering, and sciatica suffering person having an abdomen, an upper-abdominal region, a lower-chest region, first and second side-abdominal regions and a pelvic region, a pillow for said person to lie prone upon, comprising: an aperture extending through said pillow and sized to receive therein a substantial portion of said abdomen of said person, said aperture defined by at least first, second and third support structures of said pillow, wherein: said first support structure extends substantially transversely across said lower-chest region and said upper-abdominal region of said person;   said second support structure has first and second ends and extends from said first end thereof, located at a first end of said first support structure, in a substantially longitudinal direction along said first side-abdominal region of said person, to said second end thereof so as to end proximate to said pelvic region of said person; and   said third support structure has first and second ends and extends from said first end thereof, located at a second end of said first support structure, in a substantially longitudinal direction along said second side-abdominal region of said person, to said second end thereof so as to end proximate to said pelvic region of said person;   wherein said first, second and third support structures are continuously formed, creating a continuous upper support surface and a continuous outside wall and a continuout inside wall continuous outside wall and a continuous inside wall;     a thickness defined between said continuous upper support surface and said continuous lower surface; and   a chamfer portion located along said first support structure   wherein said person, lying prone on said pillow with said substantial portion of said abdomen positioned substantially within said aperture, is supported along said continuous upper support surface by said first, second and third support structures of said pillow.   
     
     
       6. A pillow as recited in claim 5, wherein said chamfer portion of said pillow extends only part way between said continuous inside and outside walls, and only part way down from said continuous upper support surface toward said continuous lower surface of said pillow.